Today the IG dollar DCM hosted 8 issuers across 8 tranches totaling $4.25b. The big story for our nation’s oldest Service Disabled Veteran broker dealer – Mischler Financial Group, Inc., is that we were named a Co-Manager on the day’s two largest issues – Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch’s $1bn 15NC10 fxd-to-fxd Reset Sub Tier 2 Notes and Synchrony Financial’s 10-year Senior Notes new issue. Those two transactions also just happened to account for 47% of today’s IG Corporate issuance! You know what that means? Both DB and SYF are today’s Deals-of-the-Day which I will get to in alphabetical order following a review of an incredible day for markets and geopolitical events risk factors that I strongly advise you stay tuned to.

11/28 – South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff verified that North Korea fired a ballistic missile that landed in the Sea of Japan. This comes 26 days after SOKO’s 11/02 NIS warning of activity at a NOKO nuke facility and expectations of a launch. Situation is “dire” Action needed = “Exclusive “QC” source. SOKO Olympics begin Friday 2/2018 and end Sunday 2/25 = Dates to keep in mind! 11/20 – Pres. Trump announced the U.S. designated NOKO as a state sponsor of terrorism. Warns NOKO that “nuclearization puts its regime in grave danger & increases the peril it faces.”

ELEVATED“Beltway Dysfunction”

11/28 – U.S. Senate Budget Committee advanced the GOP tax reform bill to Senate for debate that could see a vote take place as early as Thursday 11/30. Congress passed the Tax Reform Bill on 11/16 in a 227-205. Strong push to unite all Republicans behind Trump to get tax reform done by year end.

Gaining traction in the Beltway: Atty. Gen. Sessions raised the possibility of special counsel appointment to investigate the Uranium One Deal involving the Clinton Foundation in which a Russian company took control of 20% of entire supply of U.S. uranium supply used to make nuclear weapons in exchange for Clinton Foundation donations. In a decree on March 20, 2020 Russia’s Vladimir Putin, abolished the Federal Agency for Nuclear Power. The public corporation Rosatom (he owns) was vested with the authority to implement on behalf of the Russian Federation the rights of shareholders in the joint-stock companies in the nuclear energy industry. In 2013 Rosatom retained full ownership. Matter of U.S. national security.

CAUTION

MENA & EU

11/28 – Israeli Mossad working with Saudi’s General Intelligence Presidency (GIP) over mounting tensions with Iran. Shared interests against Iran are bringing both nation’s closer. Lebanon’s PM al-Hariri resigned from Saudi Arabia 11/05 blaming Iranian aggression. Abandons support of Iran’s Hezbollah terror group. Beirut, is proving ground for Saudi-Iranian proxy wars. Consolidation of KSA power with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman breeds sweeping change in the Kingdom called “Vision 2030” to wean KSA off oil. bin Salman leadership saw more than 50 Saudi inner players arrested in anti-corruption probe including Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Saleh Kamel & Khalid al-Tuwaijri to show he is clearly in charge. Trump and House of Saud are close. Both share strong views on an anti-nuclear Iran. KSA needs oil above $81 to break even. “Tensions” will surely boost the price of a barrel of “black gold.”

Negotiators reached agreement in principle on EU settlement demand or BREXIT “divorce bill.” Amount is heard to be in a €45b to €55b range down from the €60bn that the EU initially demanded. This breaks the deadlock and should promote further Dec. & Jan. negotiations. U.K. withdrawal from EU takes place in 3/2019. Moody’s downgraded the UK on 9/22 to Aa2 from Aa1. Critical that PM Theresa May has shown an ability to effectively.

Spain’s Rajoy announces snap elections on Dec. 21st to help defray the Catalonian independence crisis. Could result in breakaway = could spread thru EU. Former Catalan Pres. Puigdemont to appear in court 11/17. On 11/02: 8 Catalan gov’t. members jailed in Spain for role in independence rebellion & sedition.

The Caliphate is destroyed but ISIS is now scattered across a wider region including Europe. November MTD Terror Stats a/o 11/27:39 terrorist attacks; 766+ dead; 705+ wounded.

MODERATE“China”

China hard landing: rising corporate debt & slower GDP growth are OECD and IMF concerns. Debt is 250% of GDP. National Congress of the Chinese Communists Party confirms Xi Jinping as its most powerful leader since Mao. Xi loyalists make up inner sanctum of Chinese politics into the next decade. 6% GDP in 2018 will be difficult.

Mischler Financial Group, Inc., the nation’s oldest Service Disabled Veteran broker dealer was honored today to serve on today’s $1b Deutsche Bank AG/New York Branch 15NC10 fixed-to-fixed Reset Subordinated Tier 2 Notes new issue. We thank Team DB for selecting Mischler as a Junior Co-Manager from among the host of diversity firms in our industry.

For the DB fair value study I looked at the outstanding 4.296% 15NC10 Global Sub Notes (5/24/2028) that was 4.63% to call or 4.70 YTM which is equal to T+237 vs. T10. Adding 9 bps to account for the swap curve from 2028s to 2032s gets you to T+246 pegging NIC on today’s T+255 print at 9 bps. A personal “thank you” to Margaret Szczerbicki!

Use of proceeds from today’s transaction will be used for general corporate purposes.

DB Issue

IPTs

GUIDANCE

LAUNCH

PRICED

Spread
Compression

NICs
(bps)

Trading at
the Break

+/-
(bps)

15nc10
fxd-to-fxd
12/01/2032

+280a

+260a (+/-5)

+255

+255
Reset 5yr
MS +255.3

<25> bps

9

250/247

<5>

………and here’s a snap shot of today’s final book size and oversubscription rate – the measure of investor demand:

Mischler Financial Group, Inc., is proud to announce that it also served as an active 1.00% Co-Manager on Synchrony Financial’s $1bn 10-year Senior Notes new issue today. We have enjoyed a longtime partnership with Synchrony.

For the Synchrony Financial relative value study I looked to the outstanding SYF 3.70% Senior Unsecured Global Notes due 8/04/2026 that were T+148 (G+153) pre-announcement. Adding 5 bps for the extension from the SYF 8/2026 to today’s SYF 12/2027 gets us to G+158 landing on today’s +165 print as 7 bps.

Use of proceeds from today’s transaction will be used for general corporate purposes.

SYF Issue

IPTs

GUIDANCE

LAUNCH

PRICED

Spread
Compression

NICs
(bps)

Trading at
the Break

+/-
(bps)

SYF 10yr

+180a

+165 the #

+165

+165

<15> bps

7

165 (issue bid)

0/flat

………and here’s a snap shot of today’s final book size and oversubscription rate – the measure of investor demand:

Last week muni volume was about $8.4 billion. This week volume is expected to be $9.9 billion. The negotiated market is led by a pair of Illinois deals, $922.3 million for the Board of Education of the City of Chicago, and $475.0 million for Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority. The competitive market is led by $505.8 million general obligation bonds for the State of Washington on Tuesday.

Below and attached is neither a recommendation or offer to purchase or sell securities. Mischler Financial Group is not a Municipal Advisor. For additional information, please contact Managing Director Richard Tilghman at 203.276.6656

For reading ease, please click on image below

Since 2014 alone, minority broker-dealer Mischler Financial Group Inc.’s presence across the primary Primary Debt Capital Markets (DCM) space has included underwriting roles in which Mischler has led, co-managed and/or served as selling group member for more than $600 Billion (notional value) in new debt and preferred shares issued by Fortune corporations, as well as debt issued by various municipalities and US Government agencies.

This document may be not reproduced in any manner without the permission of Mischler Financial Group. Although the statements of fact have been obtained from and are based upon sources Mischler Financial Group believes reliable, we do not guarantee their accuracy, and any such information may be incomplete. All opinions and estimates included in this report are subject to change without notice. This report is for informational purposes and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. Veteran-owned broker-dealer Mischler Financial Group, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, including persons involved in the preparation of this report, may from time to time maintain a long or short position in, or purchase or sell a position in, hold or act as market-makers or advisors or brokers in relation to the securities (or related securities, financial products, options, warrants, rights, or derivatives), of companies mentioned in this report or be represented on the board of such companies. Neither Mischler Financial Group nor any officer or employee of Mischler Financial Group or any affiliate thereof accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential damages or losses arising from any use of this report or its contents.

Last week muni volume was about $10.2 billion. This week volume is expected to be $6.7 billion. The negotiated market is led by $737.0 million P3 private activity bonds for Virginia Small Business Financing Authority. The competitive market is led by $684.3 million general obligation bonds for Montgomery County, Maryland in 4 bids on Tuesday.

Below and attached is neither a recommendation or offer to purchase or sell securities. Mischler Financial Group is not a Municipal Advisor. For additional information, please contact Managing Director Richard Tilghman at 203.276.6656

For reading ease, please click on image below

Since 2014 alone, minority broker-dealer Mischler Financial Group Inc.’s presence across the primary Primary Debt Capital Markets (DCM) space has included underwriting roles in which Mischler has led, co-managed and/or served as selling group member for more than $600 Billion (notional value) in new debt and preferred shares issued by Fortune corporations, as well as debt issued by various municipalities and US Government agencies.

This document may be not reproduced in any manner without the permission of Mischler Financial Group. Although the statements of fact have been obtained from and are based upon sources Mischler Financial Group believes reliable, we do not guarantee their accuracy, and any such information may be incomplete. All opinions and estimates included in this report are subject to change without notice. This report is for informational purposes and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. Veteran-owned broker-dealer Mischler Financial Group, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, including persons involved in the preparation of this report, may from time to time maintain a long or short position in, or purchase or sell a position in, hold or act as market-makers or advisors or brokers in relation to the securities (or related securities, financial products, options, warrants, rights, or derivatives), of companies mentioned in this report or be represented on the board of such companies. Neither Mischler Financial Group nor any officer or employee of Mischler Financial Group or any affiliate thereof accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential damages or losses arising from any use of this report or its contents.

Below and attached is neither a recommendation or offer to purchase or sell securities. Mischler Financial Group is not a Municipal Advisor. For additional information, please contact Managing Director Richard Tilghman at 203.276.6656

For reading ease, please click on image below

Since 2014 alone, minority broker-dealer Mischler Financial Group Inc.’s presence across the primary Primary Debt Capital Markets (DCM) space has included underwriting roles in which Mischler has led, co-managed and/or served as selling group member for more than $600 Billion (notional value) in new debt and preferred shares issued by Fortune corporations, as well as debt issued by various municipalities and US Government agencies.

This document may be not reproduced in any manner without the permission of Mischler Financial Group. Although the statements of fact have been obtained from and are based upon sources Mischler Financial Group believes reliable, we do not guarantee their accuracy, and any such information may be incomplete. All opinions and estimates included in this report are subject to change without notice. This report is for informational purposes and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. Veteran-owned broker-dealer Mischler Financial Group, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, including persons involved in the preparation of this report, may from time to time maintain a long or short position in, or purchase or sell a position in, hold or act as market-makers or advisors or brokers in relation to the securities (or related securities, financial products, options, warrants, rights, or derivatives), of companies mentioned in this report or be represented on the board of such companies. Neither Mischler Financial Group nor any officer or employee of Mischler Financial Group or any affiliate thereof accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential damages or losses arising from any use of this report or its contents.

Children are born and then coddled and fed by their parents for years until the time comes for them to face the world on their own. This is like the Fed coddling and nurturing financial markets with asset purchases and low interest rates. At the September 20th FOMC meeting, while not raising rates, the Fed did signal that they continue to increase the pace of their balance sheet unwind. While inflation is below their 2% target rate, which perplexes them, they are planning on raising rates soon, or eventually, or someday. While some doubt the Fed will actually raise rates again this year, the market is pricing in a meager 1% chance of an October rate hike, and a more substantial 67% chance of a December rate hike. The end of cheap money will eventually come, but the recently disclosed Tax reform blueprint could give financial markets its next coddle-induced growth spurt. Tax reform details suggest a battle in Congress is on the horizon. This leads us once again to focus on macro and micro economic data as well as upcoming corporate earnings growth.

Larry Peruzzi, Managing Director

As Major League Baseball’s regular season and the third quarter comes to an end, the S&P 500 closes out September with its 6th straight monthly gain. This is the first time the S&P closed positive in the month of September since 2013, with leading sectors being: Techs, Energy and Industrials. The U.S dollar is closing out its best week of the year; Asian markets closed out a strong quarter with the MSCI Asia Pac index posting its 9th straight monthly gain. WTI crude, while pulling back the last few sessions, will close out Q3 up about 10%. U.K data on Friday showed the savings rate increased more than expected while wages grew faster than prices for first time in a year. We will be watching to see if this is a one month outlier or if a trend is developing. Deutsche Bank’s rating was cut by Fitch on a lack of revenue recovery. Volkswagen announced a $3billion charge related to the buy back or retrofit of tainted U.S. diesel cars. Also, this week we saw a pullback in August U.S new home sales as well as pending sales; better durable and Cap goods orders and personal income and spending was mostly in line. The core PCE deflator slowed to 1.3% in August, while Euro area core inflation fell .1% to 1.1% in September.

U.K. PM May will give the keynote speech at next week’s Conservative Party’s annual conference and Janet Yellen will give opening remarks at a community banking conference in St. Louis on Wednesday. September ISM data is due on Monday, ADP employment change on Wednesday, August trade balance, factory and durable goods orders on Thursday. “Here we go again” as the Spanish region of Catalonia will attempt to stage a separatist referendum on Sunday. The most-watched release will be September U.S payroll due on Friday. Payrolls are expected to show that we added the fewest workers in six months (88K estimates) as hurricanes Harvey and Irma put a temporary halt to hiring in parts of the southeast. 3Q earnings will begin in 2 weeks, but we are expecting earnings from PepsiCo Inc., Monsanto Co., Tesco Plc, Paychex Inc., Lennar Corp. and Costco Wholesale Corp next week.

Nobel prizes will be awarded through the week. Equifax ex CEO will be questioned at a U.S House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on Tuesday. Asian market volume will be light next week as China, Taiwan and Korea observe autumn festivals. North Korea has been quiet recently, and that’s a welcomed change.

Most global markets are at or are near all-time highs and the VIX index once again is near its lows at 9.61. So, while the FED would very much like its child to go out and confront the world on its own, recent data and September payrolls may warrant some form of continued coddling. The coming few weeks of economic data, tax reform and earnings should give us clarity as to when the Fed can raise rates and turn that bedroom into a den. Recent trading volumes suggests traders are currently not sure. Looking back at the S&P 500 return the last four Octobers: October 2016 -1.94%, October 2015 +8.3%, October 2014 +2.32%, and October 2013 +4.46%. We can see that October is a month that investors do not want to sit idle on the sidelines. October is a month to pick apples, watch the leaves turn, watch football and watch the market.

Larry Peruzzi is a 20 yr global trading markets veteran and brings a unique perspective to global equities market commentary via Mischler Financial Group, the securities industry’s oldest minority broker-dealer owned and operated by service-disabled veterans. Larry’s experience and best execution perspective stems from his sitting on ‘both sides of the aisle.’ For more than half of Larry’s career, he ran buy-side trading desks for Standish Mellon and thereafter, The Boston Company. In both of those roles, Larry was responsible for implementing and managing international equities trade execution. Larry’s perspectives are frequently cited by the leading financial news publishers, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg LP and Reuters

Peruzzi’s Perch is a weekly synopsis of Everything Equities as seen from the perch of Mischler Financial Group’s International Equities Desk. Cited by Wall Street Letter in each of 2014, 2015 and 2016 for “Best Research / Broker-Dealer”, Peruzzi’s Perch is one of four distinctive content pieces produced by Mischler Financial Group.

The U.S markets finished August with the NASDAQ comp at all-time highs, the S&P 500 on a 5 day and DOW on a 4 day winning streak. In fact, both the DOW and S&P 500 were within ½ of 1 % of their all times highs set on August 8th. We find this to be somewhat remarkable given the headwinds the market has had to face recently.

Larry Peruzzi, Managing Director

We have seen the market repeatedly recover from events such as North Korea missile launches, Presidential cabinet turnover, failed heath care bills, and Hurricane Harvey’s destruction and near shut down of Houston’s oil refining capacity. This market may be overvalued, it may be “long in the tooth” and it may even be a thorn in the FED’s side. All true, but it also proving to be very resilient.

Another surprising aspect is the lack of surprise in the economic releases. Perhaps it’s a function of better forecasting, but we rarely see surprises in the numbers. This week Wholesales inventories, Dallas Fed, jobless claims, income, spending, Q2 GDP adjustment all came in as expected. July pending sales however did pull back a bit. We closed out the week with August employment report and while the headline number of 156K versus 180K estimates looked light, the bulk of that was in lower government hiring. The participation rate remained at a healthy 62.9%. The biggest story of the week was the massive flooding caused by hurricane Harvey. The storm looks like it will be the costliest in U.S history, and the human and personal toll is difficult to comprehend. Gasoline has spiked to multi year highs, but with oil maintaining a $47.25 a barrel price, we expect gasoline prices to ease on refining capacity and pipelines return to service. The one silver lining from this storm was the drastic improvement in response time that we experienced during the Katrina Hurricane 12 years ago.

With markets closed for Monday’s Labor Day holiday we expect to see volumes slowly return more toward normal as the week progresses. Economically, we get July factory and durable goods orders on Tuesday, July trade balance and Fed Beige book on Wednesday, productivity, jobless claims and labor cost on Thursday, followed by July’s final read of wholesale inventories.

The most closely watched items will be the beige book as well as damage cost out of Houston ($70 to $90B estimate). While escalating numbers will continue to put pressure on the insurers, eventually an economic boom will be realized in construction, material and transportation stocks as the Houston area begins the rebuild process. Hurricane Irma is making its way across the Atlantic and we will be watching the storms progress.

The North Korea threat will most likely not go away, but the government and market has recently been better at handling the situation. The pending debt ceiling and tax reform debate in Washington could have some market moving effect. The EU and UK will continue to negotiate Brexit terms. Friday GM reported nice sale gains. We will be watching auto sales going forward to see if the industry has turned a corner.

While many are touting the regulatory reform as being the prime market driver the earning growth, modest job growth, and non-inflationary pressures (next FED hike now pushed out to December) are all helping to diminish investors’ concerns of a September correction. Historically, September has not been kind to equity markets. But as we know, this is a totally different market. Enjoy the ride and enjoy the long weekend. It’s back to work on Tuesday.

Larry Peruzzi

Managing Director International Trading

Mischler Financial Group

Larry Peruzzi is a 20 yr global trading markets veteran and brings a unique perspective to global equities market commentary via Mischler Financial Group, the securities industry’s oldest minority broker-dealer owned and operated by service-disabled veterans. Larry’s experience and best execution perspective stems from his sitting on ‘both sides of the aisle.’ For more than half of Larry’s career, he ran buy-side trading desks for Standish Mellon and thereafter, The Boston Company. In both of those roles, Larry was responsible for implementing and managing international equities trade execution. Larry’s perspectives are frequently cited by the leading financial news publishers, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg LP and Reuters

Peruzzi’s Perch is a weekly synopsis of Everything Equities as seen from the perch of Mischler Financial Group’s International Equities Desk. Cited by Wall Street Letter in each of 2014, 2015 and 2016 for “Best Research / Broker-Dealer”, Peruzzi’s Perch is one of four distinctive content pieces produced by Mischler Financial Group.

Cited by Wall Street Letter in each of 2014, 2015 and 2016 for “Best Research / Broker-Dealer”, the QC is one of three distinctive market comment pieces produced by Mischler Financial Group.The QC is a daily synopsis of everything Syndicate and Secondary as seen from the perch of our fixed income trading and debt capital markets desk and includes a comprehensive “deep dive” with optics on the day’s investment grade corporate debt new issuance and secondary market data encompassing among other items, comparables, investment grade credit spreads, new issue activity, secondary market most active issues, and upcoming pipeline. To receive Quigley’s Corner, please email: rkarr@mischlerfinancial.com or via phone 203.276.6646

Today’s Friday IG Corporate dollar DCM featured 2 issuers that priced 2 tranches between them totaling $650mm as of this writing. The SSA space was quiet today. Please note that I scribed the below Best & Brightest IG Corporate primary market data download piece early this morning, so the data does not include today’s Murphy Oil and TC Pipelines deals.

Thanks! –RQ (In case you left early en route to the beach, the DJIA reached yet another new intra-day high today!)

As for next week, well British American Tobacco’s $49bn purchase of Reynolds American looks like it will manifest itself as the Company announced fixed income investor meetings for an expected mega cross currency transaction across USD, Euro and Sterling. The Senior Unsecured dollar-denominated portion will feature joint leads Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and HSBC. The three tranches could potentially raise $25b dollar equivalent. I am also hearing “chatter” of another big issuer lurking. We all know that after next week, it begins the traditional summer slowdown period. . But before that, the big push is on, so rest up this weekend, as next week’s syndicate midpoint average forecast calls for $34.29b to price. Factoring in that average amount to the $21b priced thus far in August would bring the MTD total to $55.29b. The forecast for August is $79.10bn so that would leave $23.81b to get done across the last three weeks of the month or an average of $7.93b. This ASSUMES that next week will reach the midpoint average forecast. I happen to think we could see $40b next week, which would push the average of each of the last three weeks of August down to $6bn.

But, before we all go away with our families, re-energize this weekend because next week will be a big one. Read all about it below from the pros who price all the deals in our IG dollar DCM. We’ll first review today’s primary and secondary market talking points, the growing geopolitical risk factors in our world, take a glance at the weekly and monthly IG primary market volume tables and then it’s onto the masters, maestros and mavens of syndicate who price all the deals in our IG dollar DCM.
Ready?.SET?..R-E-A-D!

Here’s how this week’s IG Corporate volume numbers measure up against the WTD and MTD syndicate estimates:

The IG Corporate WTD total is 110.84% of this week’s syndicate midpoint average forecast or $27.986b vs. $25.25b.

MTD we’ve priced 26.55% of the syndicate forecast for July or $21.00b vs. $79.10b.

There are now 5 issuers in the IG credit pipeline.

Today’s IG Primary & Secondary Market Talking Points

The average spreads across 2 of the 19 major industry sectors tied their post-Crisis lows. That’s 10.53% of the sectors.

Investment grade corporate bond trading posted a final Trace count of $19.6b on Thursday versus $19.9b on Wednesday and $19.6b the previous Thursday.

The 10-DMA stands at $17.4b.

The “QC” Geopolitical Risk Monitor

Risk Level/Main Factor

Geopolitical Risks

HIGHAsian Political Tensions

· N. Korea launches ICBM on 7/28. Jong-Un claims Hwasong-14 missile can reach any location on the U.S. continent. UN projects worst famine in NOKO in 17 yrs; last one killed 2mm (8% of population). Fear that NOKO may use nuclear intel/systems as barter for food w/”suspect” nations. U.S. has already sanctioned certain Chinese banks to pressure the PRC to use more influence over NOKO which has failed. U.S. lofts Trident missile in Pacific Ocean in response. China insiders say PRC does not have the influence on NOKO that the U.S. thinks it does.

ELEVATEDBREXIT Fallout

· U.K. PM May is on the hot seat. Macron-Merkel coalition to squeeze U.K. for all it can. France pressing for $115b equivalent.
Venezuela – civil unrest as Maduro dictatorship claims bogus election outcome favors unlimited powers and a new constitutional assembly in elections that U.S. and key LATAM nations will not acknowledge. Caracas named most dangerous city in the world with highest murder rate. VZ gov’t stopped publishing crime stats a decade ago. Dictatorship in our Western Hemisphere. U.S. Tsy. freezes Maduro family assets.

· Increased chance of 2018 U.S. recession in light of recent very hawkish Fed-speak?; “Maybe” one more rate hike in 2017; lack of inflation and $4.5 trillion balance sheet unwind are concerns.

Syndicate IG Corporate-only Volume Estimates This Week and August

IG Corporate New Issuance

This Week
7/31-8/04

vs. Current
WTD – $27.986b

August 2017

vs. Current
MTD – $21.00b

Low-End Avg.

$24.21b

115.60%

$78.37b

26.80%

Midpoint Avg.

$25.25b

110.84%

$79.10b

26.55%

High-End Avg.

$26.29b

106.45%

$79.83b

26.31%

The Low

$15b

186.57%

$60b

35.00%

The High

$35b

79.96%

$100b

21.00%

The “Best and the Brightest” Syndicate Forecasts and Sound Bites re New IG Debt Issuance Next Week

I am happy to announce that the “QC” once again received 100% unanimous participation from all 24 syndicate desks surveyed for today’s “Best & Brightest” edition! Thank you to all of them. 21 of those participants are among 2017’s YTD top 22 ranked syndicate desks according to today’s Bloomberg’s U.S. IG U.S. Investment Grade Corporate Bond underwriting league table.

*Please note that these are Investment Grade Corporates only. They do not include SSA issuance unless otherwise noted.

As always “thank you” to all the syndicate desks that participated in today’s survey. I greatly appreciate your time to contribute and for making this edition of the “QC” among the most widely read! You are helping to promote Mischler’s value-added DCM proposition while adding readership to the “QC” that won Wall Street Letter’s Award as Best Broker Dealer Research in our financial services industry for three consecutive years! That’s 2014, 2015 and 2016 !!

The preface to the weekly canvass of the top fixed income syndicate desk teams begins with the following background-Entering this morning’s Friday session, here are this week’s IG new issue volume talking points:

The IG Corporate WTD total outperformed once again with issuance 108.26% of the syndicate midpoint average forecast or $27.336b vs. $25.25b.

MTD we have now priced 25.73% of the syndicate projection for August IG Corporates or $20.35b vs. $79.10b.

Entering today’s session, the YTD IG Corporate-only volume is $862.833b vs. $843.591b on August 3rd, 2016 or 2.28% more than a year ago.

The all-in or IG Corporate plus SSA YTD volume is $1,054.568b vs. $1,077.377b on August 3rd, 2016 or 2.16% less than the year ago total.

Entering this morning’s session, here are the five key primary market driver averages from the 42 IG Corporate-only deals that priced this week:

NICS: 0.06 bps

Oversubscription Rates: 3.34x

Tenors: 11.96 years

Tranche Sizes: $651mm

Spread Compression from IPTs to the Launch: <18.56> bps

Here’s how this week’s critical primary market data compares against last week’s entering this morning’s session:

Average NICs tightened 1.62 bps to an average 0.06 bps vs. 1.68 bps across this week’s 42 IG Corporate-only new issues.

Over subscription or bid-to-cover rates, the measure of demand, slightly increased by 0.04-times to 3.34x vs. 3.30x.

Average tenors contracted by 1.07 years to an average 11.96 years vs. 13.03.

Tranche sizes decreased by $861mm to $651mm vs. 1,512mm. Last week featured the $22.5bn 7-part transaction for AT&T which boosted the average tranche size.

Spread compression from IPTs to the launch/final pricing of this week’s 42 IG Corporate-only new issues widened by 2.59 bps to <18.56> bps vs. <21.15>.

Spreads across the four IG asset classes widened 2 bps bps to 6.00 bps vs. 4.00 bps as measured against their post-Crisis lows.

The 19 major industry sectors also widened 2.36 bps to 9.89 vs. 7.53 bps also as measured against their post-Crisis lows.

For the week ended August 2nd, Lipper U.S. Fund Flows reported an inflow of $1.485b into Corporate Investment Grade Funds (2017 YTD net inflow of $79.114b) and a net inflow of $20.818m into High Yield Funds (2017 YTD net outflow of $6.663b).

Taking a look at the secondary trading performance of this week’s IG and SSA new issues, of the 50 deals that printed, 26 tightened versus NIP for a 00% improvement rate, 13 widened (26.00%), 9 were flat (18.00%) and 2 were not available (4.00%) or N/A.

Entering today’s Friday session here’s how much we issued this week:

IG Corps: $27.336b

All-in IG (Corps + SSA): $31.986b

And now ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the guy-in-the corner, to ask today’s question, “what are your thoughts and numbers for next week’s IG Corporate new issue volume?”

Throughout the last several weeks more than a few strategists and commentators have been warning investors of overvalued and overbought equities markets. Calls were being made to head for the exit. Yet, for reasons known and unknown, investors kept plowing money into the market. Lack of volatility, low interest rates, cheap oil, tame inflation and favorable business policy drew investors in to US [and global] equities markets as they did not heed the warnings. To understand this, we should look at the hikers that attempt to conquer Mt Everest. Those mountaineers are well aware that peril could be met with a slight slip of foot or unforeseen storm, yet they trudge forward for the glory and euphoria of reaching the top. Likewise, investors today are presumably well aware of the risks (until they’re not!) and this week, the glory of new all-time highs as well as very good earnings and a strong jobs report made the voyage worth it.

Larry Peruzzi, Managing Director

We had another heavy earnings week. So far, this recent quarter is shaping up as the best earnings season in 7 years, with 77% of companies reporting beating estimates. Economics-wise, this week‘s June Pending home sales, June Personal spending, July ISM manufacturing and June factory orders all came in at or very close to estimates. Price deflator and personal income data was dovish. The major economic release was Friday’s July employment report. Unemployment dropped to 4.3% as expected and non-farm payrolls added a better than expected 209,000 jobs. Average hourly earnings met estimates at +.3% M/M which at a +2.5% Y/Y rate should NOT ignite any inflation fears.

The Washington/Russia/North Korea/Venezuela soap opera drama continues. The Trump administration cabinet turnover is reaching a record pace, but none of this seems to be enough to spook the markets. Possible new sanctions against Venezuela help lift oil close to $50 a barrel but many U.S refineries have been fitted, at sizeable cost, to refine Venezuela’s heavy type of crude so look for a fair amount of politicking here.

Looking ahead to next week, earning season is nearing its end with just 206 companies due to report. Also due are Consumer credit on Monday, 2Q non-farm productivity and labor cost on Wednesday, July PPI data on Thursday and July CPI data on Friday.

With the DOW at 22, 000 and the economy close to being at full employment, analysts and investors will closely monitor any type of inflationary pressure which might cause the FED to raise rates at a faster pace or possibly, amplify asset sales. So, we will be listening to speeches by Fed governors Bullard, Kashkari, Dudley next week ahead of the August 16th FOMC meeting minutes. With global growth, low inflation, low energy prices and emerging market growth investors will be cautiously move forward as we scale the peak.

Larry Peruzzi

Managing Director International Trading

Mischler Financial Group

Investment Banking | Institutional Brokerage

Larry Peruzzi is a 20 yr global trading markets veteran and brings a unique perspective to global equities market commentary via Mischler Financial Group, the securities industry’s oldest minority broker-dealer owned and operated by service-disabled veterans. Larry’s experience and best execution perspective stems from his sitting on ‘both sides of the aisle.’ For more than half of Larry’s career, he ran buy-side trading desks for Standish Mellon and thereafter, The Boston Company. In both of those roles, Larry was responsible for implementing and managing international equities trade execution. Larry’s perspectives are frequently cited by the leading financial news publishers, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg LP and Reuters

Peruzzi’s Perch is a weekly synopsis of Everything Equities as seen from the perch of Mischler Financial Group’s International Equities Desk. Cited by Wall Street Letter in each of 2014, 2015 and 2016 for “Best Research / Broker-Dealer”, Peruzzi’s Perch is one of four distinctive content pieces produced by Mischler Financial Group

Cited by Wall Street Letter in each of 2014, 2015 and 2016 for “Best Research / Broker-Dealer”, the QC is one of three distinctive market comment pieces produced by Mischler Financial Group.The QC is a daily synopsis of everything Syndicate and Secondary as seen from the perch of our fixed income trading and debt capital markets desk and includes a comprehensive “deep dive” with optics on the day’s investment grade corporate debt new issuance and secondary market data encompassing among other items, comparables, investment grade credit spreads, new issue activity, secondary market most active issues, and upcoming pipeline. To receive Quigley’s Corner, please email: rkarr@mischlerfinancial.com or via phone 203.276.6646

Today’s IG Corporate dollar DCM finished with 11 issuers pricing 15 tranches between them totaling $6.986b. The SSA space was quiet today. It seemed much busier than today’s final tally given the 15 tranches but if you’ll recall several syndicate desks did comment in last Friday’s “QC” survey for this week’s IG Corporate new issue volume that it would seem busier given the expectation for lots of smaller sized deals.

………….Here’s how this week’s IG Corporate volume numbers measure up against the WTD and MTD syndicate estimates:

The IG Corporate WTD total is 27.67% of this week’s syndicate midpoint average forecast or $6.986b vs. $25.25b.

MTD we’ve priced 143.28% of the syndicate forecast for July or $120.926b vs. $84.40b.

There are now 6 issuers in the IG credit pipeline.

July 2017 finished as the second highest volume July on record for IG Corporates at $120.876b as well as for all-in IG supply (Corporates plus SSA) – $141.476b.

N. Korea launches ICBM on 7/28. Jong-Un claims Hwasong-14 missile can reach any location on the U.S. continent. UN projects worst famine in NOKO in 17 yrs; last one killed 2mm (8% of population). Fear that NOKO may use nuclear intel/systems as barter for food w/”suspect” nations. U.S. has already sanctioned certain Chinese banks to pressure the PRC to use more influence over NOKO which has obviously failed. Tensions are mounting.

ELEVATEDBREXIT Fallout

U.K. PM May is on the hot seat. Macron-Merkel coalition to squeeze U.K. for all it can. France pressing for $115b equivalent. Venezuela – civil unrest as Maduro dictatorship claims bogus election outcome favors unlimited powers and a new constitutional assembly in elections that U.S. and key LATAM nations will not acknowledge. Caracas named most dangerous city in the world with highest murder rate. VZ gov’t stopped publishing crime stats a decade ago. Dictatorship in our Western Hemisphere. U.S. Tsy. freezes Maduro family assets.

Mischler Muni Market Market Update for the week of 07-31-17 looks back to last week’s metrics and provides a focused lens on pending muni bond issuance scheduled for the upcoming week. As always, the Mischler Muni Market Outlook provides public finance investment managers, institutional investors focused on municipal debt and municipal bond market participants a summary of prior week’s municipal debt activity, including credit spreads and money flows, and a curated view of pending municipal finance offerings scheduled for this week’s issuance.

Last week muni volume was about $4.2 billion. This week volume is expected to be $7.2 billion. The negotiated market is led by $1.1 billion senior and subordinate bonds for the Bay Area Toll Authority, California. The competitive market is led by $388.9 million tax-exempt and taxable general obligation bonds for Portland Public School District #1J, Oregon on Thursday. Commonwealth of Massachusetts is selling $1.5 billion GO RANs at competitive sale on Wednesday.

Below and attached is neither a recommendation or offer to purchase or sell securities. Mischler Financial Group is not a Municipal Advisor. For additional information, please contact Managing Director Richard Tilghman at 203.276.6656

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Since 2014 alone, Mischler Financial Group Inc.’s presence across the primary Debt Capital Markets space has included underwriting roles in which Mischler has led, co-managed and/or served as selling group member for more than $600 Billion (notional value) in new debt and preferred shares issued by Fortune corporations, as well as debt issued by various municipalities and US Government agencies.

Mischler Financial Group is the securities industry’s oldest minority broker-dealer owned and operated by Service-Disabled Veterans. Mischler is also a federally-certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprise (SDVOBE). Mischler Muni Market updates are provided as a courtesy to institutional clients of Mischler Financial Group, Inc.

This document may be not reproduced in any manner without the permission of Mischler Financial Group. Although the statements of fact have been obtained from and are based upon sources Mischler Financial Group believes reliable, we do not guarantee their accuracy, and any such information may be incomplete. All opinions and estimates included in this report are subject to change without notice. This report is for informational purposes and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. Veteran-owned broker-dealer Mischler Financial Group, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, including persons involved in the preparation of this report, may from time to time maintain a long or short position in, or purchase or sell a position in, hold or act as market-makers or advisors or brokers in relation to the securities (or related securities, financial products, options, warrants, rights, or derivatives), of companies mentioned in this report or be represented on the board of such companies. Neither Mischler Financial Group nor any officer or employee of Mischler Financial Group or any affiliate thereof accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential damages or losses arising from any use of this report or its contents.